Tips for Arranging Succulents in Containers and Landscapes

Succulents are so beautiful in their own right, so it really doesn’t take much to create a great arrangement for them. These techniques will help your arrangements really stand out!

Over the past few years I’ve created a lot of succulent arrangements for myself, for my ebooks, for the Idiot’s Guide, and for my friends and family. I’ve also been privileged to work with some incredible succulent designers, and photograph their arrangements.

Every one of these designers has his or her own style and techniques–but it seems every arrangement is a work of art!

Throughout this article, you’ll find links to purchase the succulents I mention in each of the design sections. I know it can be tricky to find colorful succulents locally, so these links can help you track down the plants you’re looking for.

Consider Colors

One of my favorite things about succulents is that they come in virtually every color of the rainbow! This makes it a lot of fun to arrange succulents based on common colors and patterns. Since my background is in art, I’m always drawn to arrangements that really show off color schemes.

Some succulents are monochromatic–they have just one main color (usually green), but may have a variety of shades of that color.

When creating a monochromatic arrangement, it’s great to use different shapes and textures to add more interest. Click here to see some succulents that would make an interesting monochromatic arrangement.

Blue and orange just happens to be my favorite color combination of succulents–probably because plants in blue or orange are very rare and unusual, and the colors are so intense. But this red and green arrangement is super vibrant and exciting, too!

You can see more examples of these tips in the video below:

Thriller, Filler, Spiller

What’s the deal with this little rhyme? It’s actually a “formula” that’s commonly used in the world of container arrangements–and it’s probably one of the most widely suggested guidelines for designing an arrangement.

It’s so simple, and it results in great arrangements every time.

A “thriller” succulent is one that’s large, tall, spikey, or dramatically different from the other succulents in the arrangement. It should stand out as the first thing people notice when they see the design.

“Filler” succulents, on the other hand, make up the bulk of the arrangement. “Filler” doesn’t mean boring or dull, though! Choose “filler” succulents that complement your “thriller” while still providing some visual interest, whether it’s their color or texture. You can even use multiple succulent varieties!

Consider Light Needs

As fun as it is to put together an exciting arrangement, it’s also important to factor the kind of light your succulent needs in your design choices. While succulents growing indoors generally require as much light as possible, there’s actually quite a bit of variation in the amount of sunlight each species needs.

For example, Sansevierias are very tolerant of low lighting and don’t like full sun. Sedum nussbaumerianum on the other hand, needs full sun in order to maintain it’s intense color and compact shape.

It’s crucial to make sure your arrangement combines succulents with similar lighting needs.

A Google search for the succulent’s name will also help you find out more about what they need in terms of light.

When you’re planting succulents outdoors, it’s important to make sure you choose species that can handle the amount of light they’ll receive in your garden. Not all succulents will tolerate full sun, while others will wither away if they’re shaded all day.

Combining succulents with similar lighting needs will ensure that your whole arrangement (or garden bed) stays looking great for years to come!

Leaf Thickness and Watering Needs

Just as your arrangement needs to combine plants with similar lighting needs, it’s equally important to combine plants that need similar amounts of water.

The easiest way to tell a plant’s water needs at a glance is by examining its leaf thickness. But if you’re not sure, it’s best to identify the succulents you’re working with, and look up their specific watering needs on. World of Succulents or San Marcos Growers, or just do a basic Google search for your succulent.

Whether you’re following a specific technique, rule or tip, or just going wild and crazy making up your own rules, you’ll find that succulents are a lot of fun to combine. There’s really no “wrong way” to combine succulents, as long as they have similar light and watering needs, and you’re using well-draining soil and proper watering techniques.